Board of Education Regular Meeting-----------------------------------------------Video Recording & Closed Captioning provided by Zoom - Jun 25, 2025

001Recording in progress. I've been warned by technology that we need to speak into the mic. So it can pick up on…. Uh, recording…. So, so to speak, make sure you're not…. Speaking to the mic. You're welcome. This is the Solana County…. I might go. It's gonna go like that today! This is the Solano County Board of Education, the regular meeting for Wednesday, June 25th, 2025. It is 6 o'clock p.m. We will have the Pledge of Allegiance, and Trustee Lavelle, will you lead us, please? I pledge allegiance to the flag. United States of America. And to the republic for which it stands. One nation, under God. We have a roll call, please. Trustee Coleman? Trustee Sharp? Here. Astit Cheek? Here. Trustee Collin Thompson? Christy Dean? Here. Musty Dunn? Here. Musty LaBelle? Here. I'll entertain a motion

002for approval and adoption of the…. So moved. Rebecca. Then moved by Trustee Dean, seconded by Trustee…. Phone call, please. Trustee Cheek? Yes. Sd Cohen-Thompson? Honesty dean? Yes. Trustee Dunn? Yes. Trustee LaVelle? Yes. Trustee Sharp? Yes. Trustee Coleman? Yes. On to consent items. All matters listed under the consent items are considered to be routine and will be enacted by the Board in one motion. There will be no discussion on these items prior to the Board votes on the motion unless members of the Board or staff request specific items to be reviewed. Move from the consent calendar for discussion and…. Consideration for action. Are there any of the two items that need to be removed? First consent calendar, I've seen in a long time. Get a motion, please? I moved. It's moved by Trustee Dunn, seconded by

003Trustee Chi. Uh, Cohen Thompson, sorry. We get a roll call vote, please. Musty Cheek? Yes. Trustee Cohen-Thompson? Yes. Trustee Dean? Yes. Trustee Dunn? Yes. Trustee LaVelle? Yes. Trustee Sharp? Yes. Trustee Coleman? Yes. Moving on to comments from the community, the County Board of Education is aware of the importance of providing an opportunity for community members to address the board regarding matters within the board's jurisdiction that are not on the agenda. Those wishing to speak are asked to submit a request to speak form or submit comments electronically in real time. But prior to or during consideration of this item. Request to speak forms are located near the meeting room entrance. Board President will recognize those who wish to speak. In the order in which the request to speak forms and or electronic. Comments are submitted. We

004do have one, um…. For us to speak hard, but it's for a board agenda item, so we'll take that up when we get to item 11A. Any other comments from the community? We have none. Alrighty, moving on to correspondence. Thank you, President Coleman and Trustees. I do have one item, of correspondence. Uh, we have received a $181,699 grant. From the California Highway Patrol, and we received it last year, and so we're receiving it again this year. This is called the CTFGP Education Grant. The funding will be used to continue school's work with districts and youth to build the capacity on effective. Youth-led strategies to inform the community on the dangers of driving under the influence. It promotes a healthy lifestyle, drug and alcohol free, and the importance of making healthy life choices. These projects are

005intended to help mitigate alcoholic drug impaired driving and educate local communities. Unimpaired driving laws while highlighting the dangers of driving under the influence and of. Of alcohol and or other drugs. Congratulations. Okay, moving on to the superintendent's report. Yes, the first item…. Is for your information, and it's attached, the semi-annual report on allowable expenses for board member attendance at Organization Meetings. The next item is the 2526 Board Governance. Calendar, and again, it's there and attached for your information so that you can see. What's coming up? Great, I'm glad. Right. Can I ask a question about…. 7a, a report on expenditures? Yes. And we, uh, so I'm reading this to say that we spent a total of $5,200. And $33.48. What's our budget? Anybody in finance able to…. A portion of our budget isn't. Our board

006members. 28,000. And we spent 5. Okay, thanks. That's helpful. The next item is, uh, the item requested on the value of our EDC partnership. And tonight, we have Kelly Burch, our Director of Career and College Readiness and Youth Development. Along with Siobhan Dill, our Executive Director of Specialized Services. Presenting on that item. Thank you. Good evening. Good evening. Evening, President Coleman, Trustees, Superintendent. Tonight is a very important opportunity for us to reflect. I want to thank you, Trustee Sharp, for highlighting this need for us to reflect on the value of our partnership with the Solano EDC. It wasn't me. It was Trustee LaVell. Oh, Trustee LaBelle, sorry. Thank you. And credit. It wasn't at the last board meeting, sorry. Thank you. With my children that night. Thank you, Trustee Sharp. Thank you, Trustee LaVelle. Understandably,

007the board has been left with questions. Maybe even doubt about the value of our partnership with the EDC. Wanting to understand. The board has requested a presentation from the EDC on more than one occasion, and it has not been fulfilled. And I certainly can understand the doubt that this would create. For us, in reflection, this response highlights our importance. Of being present, and reminding the EDC of our significance in Solano County. With me tonight, Director of College and Career Readiness and Youth Development, Kelly Burch. Kelly is our natural representative for SCO at the EDC quarterly meetings. In her role as a director, she supports our local school districts. And Solano College as they develop their CTE pathways. That are responsive to our current economic times. She is recognized as an expert. Her exceptional skills were

008acknowledged as recently as last week. I did warn her I was gonna say that. She is standing before you, the CTE Administrator of the Year for AXA Region 4. It was a great joy to. See local leaders, um. From our local school district, Fairfield System Unified School District. President of the Workforce Development Board. Recognizing and wanting to give written input on the impact and the expertise. One of my favorite moments with Superintendent Bartley is seeing his face light up when you say the name Kelly Birch, or he brings it up himself. She's been a great influence and support to Dixon Unified. Kelly's been representing SCO at the EDC meetings. Her presence offers the opportunity to represent education to leaders within Solano County. She will share with you tonight about how EDC and her presence is

009both. Critical to informing EDC. About the state of education in Solano County. While also bringing back that information. To her role, and she supports the development of the CTE pathways. With… for K-14 education with our local school districts. And the college. Congratulations, Kelly, on your award, and thank you for being here tonight. Thank you, Siobhan. Thank you, President Coleman, Board Trustees, Superintendent Estrella Henderson, Cabinet, and guests, for the opportunity. To share with you the importance of our membership and continued partnership with Solano Economic Development Corporation. Our partnership and membership is an opportunity for us to inform the decision-making and represent the voice of students and educators in Solano County. We have four. Major, main opportunities when it comes to this membership, among many others, and I'll highlight those four main ones. First of all, representation.

010It allows us the opportunity to understand regional, economic, and workforce initiatives. And ensure that education has a voice at the table. Without representation, we miss the opportunity to correct misinformation. To highlight the value of education. And to align more effectively with our industry needs here in the county. It offers the opportunity to collaborate. Foster those meaningful connections that we have, and to keep education aligned with the realities of our local workforce. It allows us to engage. To highlight the importance of supporting education as a significant aspect of attracting businesses. And retaining businesses in Solano County. And it gives us the opportunity to advocate. To encourage shared responsibility for education. By investing in schools financially, and with meaningful engagement with our students. Solano Economic Development Corporation. Had a firm come and work with them on the,

011um, on their plan. Called Moving Solano Forward 3. And Lizette and I both had the opportunity to be interviewed. By this, um, partner. And you'll see, as you look at. Moving Solano Forward 3. That education is mentioned over 150 times. Education is important. And Lizette and I had the opportunity to represent our educators in Solano County. In that work. Their report highlights graduation rates. But it also reports some needs. The need to market education. Who better to be there to market education than the County Office of Education? It highlighted the need to partner with education in a manufacturing industry group. Sitting in the EDC meetings, I am learning more and more about the push. For manufacturing in Solano County. That is a huge pathway. A career and opportunities for our youth here in Solano County.

012And the more I learn, and the more connections I make, the more I'm able to share those with our high schools. And then support their work. As they move towards supporting those industry needs. It also listed an important, um. An important highlight that I see as a big need in the county. And that's to partner with education in a Workforce Roundtable. We don't have such a thing at this point in time. Are y'all keep hitting the computer thing? And I think that is very important. Has not happened to date. And it would not happen if we're not sitting at the table. That opportunity would move by us. It's important, um…. Sorry, I missed a page. Being at the table equips us with valuable insights to guide the programs that we prepare students. For real-world opportunities.

013That's our why. That is our purpose. To serve our students and prepare them for lifelong success. As such, we need to partner with local industries, organizations. Different types of organizations throughout the county so that we are well-informed. So that we can bring to our students the most current. The most important jobs. And opportunities right here in Solano County for them as they continue in their lifelong success. The work that we do. And the meetings that I attend. Or for students. It's important to ensure that education is at the table for our future economic strategies and future planning. Without education, and good education that we highlight and that we market. We do not bring and draw in industries. That we need here in Solano County. We do not maintain and keep industries that we have had

014here for many, many years. What we bring to the table is education. Both education and representing education, but also education for the EDC board. My recommendation to the superintendent is that we retain our membership. It is important that we remain at that table. And that we have the opportunity to ask questions and learn more. In my time in the EDC board meetings. I've had the opportunity to network. To meet people that I would not have necessarily met. The new president of Solano Community College. The president of Travis Credit Union. To build on relationships that we've begun, Representative Lori Wilson. Solano Land Trust. The Workforce Development Board of Solano. All of these people we work with in different ways, but seeing them multiple times in multiple places. Gives us visibility. And they see that we are

015the experts. We want them to come to us. Not to listen to what they hear. Or to make assumptions on their own. We are here telling them and ready to help them. As they build their plans. Keeping in mind that education is the…. Foundation of the workers. And the industry needs that they have. Thank you. I would also add, thank you, Kelly, very much, and congratulations, and. Uh, I would add that the EDC isn't. Perfect. And the intent was not to wax on poetically about the EDC. Um, Trustee Lavelle, thank you for requesting that. We do a presentation. And I acknowledge, uh, Trustee Sharp's, um, that has raised some concerns about. The EDC's current direction, its leadership. And whether the return on our investment is very clear, so…. I appreciate both of. The trustees for

016bringing up those issues. That being said, staying at the table is what's critically important. Um, I will share with you that at the last board meeting. Of the EDC when, uh, the executive director. And the chair of the EDC. Presented the vision and mission. Proposed for moving forward. Education was not addressed. Education wasn't even mentioned. And we all recognize that the economic vitality of this community is dependent. On, um, good schools. And kids that are educated for the world of work. However they get there. I raised my hand, and I expressed the concern. And after some discussion. Other members outside of education. One of the city managers expressed the same thing and absolutely agreed. We had a business owner from another community also raise their hand and agree that education needs to be at the

017forefront of this work. Um, since then, I have also been in multiple communications. With Kevin Miller, the CEO of the EDC, and the CEO of Travis Credit Union, and the chair of the EDC. And also the Executive Director, and expressed my concerns. Um, that's why I think. That we need to continue to stay at the table. Staying involved doesn't mean endorsing. Everything as is. It does, however, give us the opportunity to question, ask good questions. And to make sure that education is at the forefront of all of these conversations. About the economic vitality of our community. Um, so while I respect and understand the concerns. I believe that our presence continues. To be strategically very important. Um, and I believe that now is the time to continue to engage, frankly, even deeper. And… and not

018withdraw, and I believe that Kevin Miller, as the new chair. Has been very responsive, and I look forward to continuing those conversations with him. About how we can continue to inform and, frankly, improve. The direction of the EDC rather than withdrawing. Okay, we'll open it up for questions. Trustee Dean? Thank you. I have a few. Thank you for your presentation, and just, uh, briefly comment that. Um, first, if I ask a question, I am not making a statement. Um, people often accuse me of. Cross-examining folks, and that's not my intention, but I do need more information. Um, and I want to say that everything that you're describing about what we're doing, what we. Bennett, how we get something. Out of this particular… a particular entity. Makes sense to me. What I did not hear at

019all. Is… is EDC the appropriate? Um, entity? And are they in any way effective in anything they do? I did not hear that at all in what you said. For what you said. Here's what I heard. I heard…. Uh, we do networking. Great. Networking is the first step in the strategic plan, or strategic planning for effective work to be done. What effective work is EDC… has… have they been doing, and are they doing? For the school's community, is the question. I don't hear it. I hear that all the years that we have been participating, supporting, funding. And they… and you still, you come to a board meeting, and they don't even think about education? That's… that's very troubling. I understand that you believe we need a presence. We absolutely do need a presence all over,

020and it should be on the top of everybody's mind. That education equals economic development. But apparently it isn't. So it's a little concerning to me, and I'm interested in more…. Information about how does EDC take our… our, um…. Present or not. How is EDC in any way effective? In what they're attempting to do. Thank you for your input. First of all, I think it's important that we are involved in many. Different, um. Partnerships, working relationships. So, in my work. We are partners with our Chambers of commerce in all of our cities. We work with the Solano Workforce Development Board, uh, quite often. And the Solano EDC is another entity that is extremely important in planning. They do have a voice, they do…. Um, represent. The ideas of how economic growth is important in Solano County.

021You're correct in that. Education has not come to the forefront. Um, in my time there, I have been able to work with different business partners, different industries. Including a new member of Solano EDC who unfortunately has just left. Um, to start building relationships. For internships for our students. Building that connection with that work. Solano EDC is at a different level. In the work that I do, and the work that we do in the College and Career Readiness Department. The chambers where our connection to our local businesses. Um, the workforce development board is our connection to. Workforce, getting students ready for workforce, and making those connections. And I see the EDC as the next opportunity for us. To really educate and engage them in good conversation. They are working on housing for people, they are working

022for. Um, different types of industries to come into Solano County. And in that work that they do, which I honestly couldn't tell you if it's effective or not. At my level, but I can tell you that. Whatever comes from that work. Will highly impact our high schools and the offerings that we give students, and the opportunities that students would have to engage in work-based learning. Why do you say that? How do you know that? What… so, alright, what I'm actually missing is the data and the evidence, right? We have been engaged with these folks the entire time. I've been on this board, so…. 12, 13 years, right? The entire time. And yet we sit here, and you say, here are the things that we could do, we want to do, we're looking at doing. Why

023aren't they done? I would also add that you're right, Trustee Dean. I would add that the leadership of the EDC has changed over time. And education has been at the forefront from when I remember, two superintendents ago. In fact, the EDC requested. That, the County Office of Education be at the forefront of leading. Um, a… a student-led. Youth development work. Work readiness, uh, program that we did at Solano College. Uh, in Vallejo, so…. I would… I would add that part of the efficiency and the effectiveness also has to do with the leadership. And currently, it hasn't been at the forefront of the current leadership. But that doesn't mean we can't continue to push for it. Because in previous iterations, the EDC has had education at the forefront. Are you done, trust me? Trustee Cohen Thompson.

024I would, uh…. Encourage all the members on this board. I need to speak into the mic. Attend these meetings. I would encourage all… I did, before I came on this board. The information and the…. The dynamic of what goes on at that meeting and what they do. It's a bigger picture. The things that you're saying here. That voice should be at those meetings, because there's an opportunity. For you to speak that. What they've done in the past. I don't look at the past. I was there this morning. I heard education, I had. Work readiness, I had, uh. Workforce development. I heard, um. About housing and jobs, and what kind of jobs. That they are looking at bringing into Solano County are businesses. The business will do the jobs, the business. And, uh, about energy. And

025the level of education. That we need to be looking at. Going forward, based on the kind of industries. That will be coming into Solano County in the future. So, what they did in the past. We didn't holler. I never hollered. About, uh, education. Because I knew the bigger picture. Economic development brings jobs. Jobs bring, uh…. Employment, housing, transportation. Social services, and education is all a part of that. So the dribble down is. Our students will be… get the value. Out of all the economic development that comes into the county. That's how I see it. So…. Everybody come. The things you said. Say those things. That's the voice that they don't hear. But we've been saying it for a long time. I don't hear it at the meeting. And I don't want to get into a

026back and forth. We've got representatives at those meetings every day. Every, yeah. We used to go all the time. I've never heard the voice. The board meetings, yes. And so, let me just say this. I understand and respect all the goals. All the ideas, all the, this is what we're gonna do, this is where…. I still don't hear that EDC is in any way effective in what they're tasked with. Or in any way effective. I see no evidence, I hear no evidence, that they've actually done. Anything to… to advance or sustain what we're trying to accomplish. That's my concern. I'm willing to get…. So, we need deliverables, I think is the bottom line on this. We need deliverables, no matter who is the president. I would agree, and I will absolutely communicate that to the.

027Executive Director. Trustee Cheek? Thank you for your presentation. Tell the board of, uh, two programs that EDC and SCO have partnered in together throughout Solano County. Impacted the students. So, EDC has been, um, working… this is a current one that they're working on right now. And that is supporting the closure of Valero in Benicia. They're expecting over a million dollar cut. To the school district itself. Um, and we know when cuts come. Generally, the programs that leave. Are the programs that I. Leave, and I think all of you believe, are extremely important, which are those career readiness programs. So right now, I know that the Economic Development Corporation is meeting with and working with people as. We faced that closure. To see how we might minimize the hit. To the city, as well as to

028the school district. Um, and that has been very beneficial for me to hear and listen to. That will be a huge battle to have to overcome. And find resources should that…. Should that happen? Um, because…. That can't happen. That can't happen there. The other one that, again, we have not seen. Uh, everything we wanted to see from that is the moving Solano Forward report that they did. Really highlighting the key. Areas that we need to bring economic growth to. And, as I said, education is in there quite a bit. We had the opportunity to participate in that. We've not seen everything come from that. That doesn't mean we won't, and it doesn't mean it's not worth still trying for. Um, we often work with. Organizations. And others that are not as effective as they could

029be. And I believe it's our role. My role as I sit in those meetings. To change that. I was thinking more towards, like, um…. Edc partner. The other program for work readiness for five schools, and…. Ohio, Fairfield, Vacaville. It was a result of… I know…. Talk about some of that. Sure, sure, thank you. So, we have been able to build partnerships through EDC with, um, different industry partners. They've attended at the Solano Community College. At their, um, mentor meetings that they have at their Business Industry Connection meetings. And we've attended those as well. That's given us the opportunity to make partners in the manufacturing world, uh, specifically. Um, being that that's the, um. That's one of the main push from Solano Community College right now, is their mechatronics program. And the work that comes from

030that, because it provides not only preparation from work, but also reskilling their employees. And so we've had the opportunity to make that connection. Through that partnership and those introductions, so that we now have youth in Vacaville. That are, um, having the opportunity to intern, and. Become employees of companies. And we've built… now, we're working towards those same partnerships in Benicia. Because we do have, uh, internships coming there as well. And then we hope to continue to build on our partnerships with the college and the EDC. As we look at mechatronics. And the manufacturing industry as it comes, so…. We've gained some positions for our students. But there's a whole lot more we could be doing. And I will, as Trustee of District 5, Member Leo, I would definitely be looking for Vallejo to be a

031part of. Um, process. Um, but I know you did some other CTE. Or can… I don't know if it was with the EDC, but where you've had work readiness programs for students. Certificates, and it really impacted…. Yes. Can you talk a little bit about that? Sure, sure, sure. So we've had the opportunity to do a lot of work with our CTE programs in the county. Point a border, point of order. But if this is a conversation about EDC, not our work-ready programs. So unless it has a drug correlation to EDC, I'm not sure why we're seeing the price. As it correlates with EDC. Edc? Okay. So, giving us the opportunity to serve our students in the Work Ready Certification Program. Which is offered to all of our 12 high schools, um, that we have here.

032As well as the juvenile detention facility and our Golden Hills Community School students. We utilize partnerships with. People from the chambers, from the EDC. Um, and the Workforce Development Board. To join us in that work as mock interviewers. As guest speakers, we've been able to partner with Travis Credit Union. Who, as you've heard, sits on the board and is the. President of the board for the EDC as well. Got it, Trustee Chi? I would like to thank you. That was a compelling argument in favor of membership, and I appreciate. To come in here and talking about it and keeping it student-focused. And what are the outcomes of that membership? Oh, thank you both for…. I'm an inch, Sherry. Thank you. Just one second, okay. One thing I didn't hear is how much is this membership?

033Dude, I know we kind of had it, but then…. You said you could go to a reduced-price membership or whatever, so can we get those two figures? Sure, our current membership is at $7,500. And I couldn't tell you. Specifically, but on their website, it states what each of those bids, and I can certainly follow up. And then, um, I believe that there's… it goes up from there, and it goes down from there. I believe around a $3,000 membership, and I think a $1,000 membership. For nonprofits. Um, but then it goes up, it's tiered. Okay, well, first I want to correct, we don't just do a $7,500 membership. They have the benefit of using our facilities, and. Resources here, and that is invaluable, I'm certain. Um, I haven't gotten a figure on that yet, but I

034have requested it several times. Uh, my first questions would be on the moving Solana Forward page. Is it possible to move to that one? Okay, so you mentioned that, um. It has education mentioned 151 times. It's a 529-page document. I would hope that it would mention education at least more than a few. Um, that makes it about once almost every four pages. And when I didn't get a chance to go through all 529 pages. The vast majority of those are not referring to K-12 education. Higher education, it was…. Workforce education. It wasn't… it wasn't SCO education, it was…. Outside education. Um, I would also argue that… not argue. This was, uh, October 2023. Document, uh, in the data-driven process supported by local. Stakeholders. On page 2. Guess who's not on the page? So you may

035have talked to them, but they thought your information was so valuable that they left. Let's go off the page. There are other school districts. But not SCO. So were you part of the, uh. Data-driven process supported by local stakeholders as a $7,500 member, you didn't even get a mention. And the laundry list of local stakeholders. I was there, and I did participate. I may not have been noted as being there. Um, my recognition…. I was there also. And they left our superintendent of schools. Out of the document. 2023. Um, I think it's also important to note, when you look at that. Small section on education. The unbelievably tone-deaf. Graphics they use for our students that aren't graduating. Unbelievable. We never called them on that. Are they with our students? Our students aren't failing. We're failing

036our students. Did we ask? Was there anything mentioned? Did you… have you seen the document where you can see? I've seen the document. That was not part. The document came after. The questions for us were about the work that was being done. About the needs that we saw in the county. Okay, but you referenced, you clearly went back and used Google to count the number of education, so did I. But you didn't bother to look at the… I mean, are you familiar with the graphic in the document? Are you referring to the graphic that shows the number of adults that have not gone on to higher education? No, no, I'm talking about the graphic where it's a graduate falling. Referring to the students in our programs that are not graduating. Correct. We do have students

037that are not graduating that… and that is very true. And is that a fair representation? Of our students falling. In 2024. 3. We aren't more aware of what that kind of, uh. Illustration reflects to the students that are being recognized if I like that. Rusty Sharp, we weren't able to see a draft. The document before it came out. It's on the website, and you guys go to all the meetings. You never called it out? We didn't have an opportunity to provide feedback before it was published. But we haven't called it out since. The document was published? Three years ago, and like I said earlier. The work through that document has not really come to fruition. That's where we need to make the change. That's one of the opportunities. Nothing comes to fruition, but I'll ask

038my question again. It was 2 years ago, because it's 25. Have you, uh, in any of the meetings. Brought up the fact that they're using tone-deaf. Graphics to represent our students that are not succeeding? No, I have not. On the website, um, there is one mention under the lifestyle page. It also includes typos. Is that reflective? They have higher education on the website in repeated places, but K-12. Is mentioned once, and it's in lifestyle. Do you think that's reflective? Of, uh, taking education seriously? No, and I agree with you that they are more heavily focused on the. 1314 component. Of education. Um, I completely agree with you about Kevin Miller. I think he's a breath of fresh air. I think it's more of a return to the EDC of old, when you had. Mike Aman,

039Sandy Person. Uh, on there, but, um…. How much does our workforce development membership cost? I do not know the answer to that. Lisette may know that. Certainly follow up. Okay. How long have we been members of the EDC? Prior to me being here. At least 20 years. At least. Okay, so at least 12 years. And yet, this is where we are in education. How long have you been representing us at the EDC? This is my third year. Third year. Um, how many meetings are they having a year? We meet quarterly. We also attend the, um, education… or, I'm sorry, the EDC breakfast. Which, um, each year. Shows us something different. Brings in different speakers, different people to look at. Economic development growth, specifically to the county. It did have a California Forever panel the year

040before, and looking at that and the impact as well. Yeah, that's actually a perfect lead-in to my next question. When was the last time a K-12 person was on one of their panels? I've only seen two panels in the 3 years that I've been there, and we were not on either one. Education was not the topic. I was on one panel when, uh. Probably 3 or 4 years ago. Four years ago. Education. Okay. How many staff attended this morning's breakfast? How many board members? I do not know, I apologize. I'm technically on vacation right now. Spend your vacation, I'm sorry. So I was not in attendance this morning. You clearly drew the short straw for this one, I apologize. So, Peggy. I don't think… yeah, I don't think we have the stunning, uh…. Table membership

041anymore. Um, what opportunity… I, I…. First, I want to say, it's a fine presentation. I've heard similar language and promises for years. Would be really nice if it were real. It'd be really nice if they actually delivered. This is empty promises, again, from the EDC. They're not serving education, and I would argue they're not doing their economic development either, but. That's neither here nor there here. This is about education. Um, we are paying $7,500 plus whatever our resources here. To be members of a breakfast club that does nothing. Um…. Partnership implies that it's mutually beneficial. You didn't actually, in any of this presentation, or in any of the questions. Come up with a tangible thing that they have done. We've been members for at least 12 years, and there is nothing. Anyone here can point

042to that has impact… that has. Uh, health education other than networking, which is available. Anywhere. Um…. In fact, we don't need a membership. I would be interested to know. What opportunities you listed in any of this are membership-dependent. The County of Solana pays hundreds of thousands of dollars for this organization, and that's not counting the cities. What are we getting that we wouldn't get if we didn't have a membership? We have a seat at the table. We don't have an opportunity to be part of the executive. Board or any… hold any seat of promise. To have a voice without being a member. Anyone can attend the meetings. Right. So, the Executive Board is at one of the quarterly meetings that you're referring to? Correct. And there have been two this year, based on…. Right? There

043have been two in their existence, according to their website, because they flaunted Brown Act, uh. Violations for years and not been, uh, not held to the law. But it would appear that there have only been two meetings this year, based on…. No, I've attended 3. And unfortunately couldn't attend this one this year. So they… they don't have a third meeting on their website. Yeah, I couldn't tell you if their website is up to date. That's a question for them. Well, as members of this organization, being that for 12 years we've let them go ahead and. Want the Brown Act that we're very well aware of. I think that's something we should look into. Um…. Where an education code does it show economic development as part of our charge? It shows us that our job is

044to prepare… No, no, no, I'd like to know where in EDCO, not…. What you're… where in EdCode does it show in K-12? Is economic development part of our responsibility? I can certainly follow up with you. You're welcome to, because I did a search, and in the, uh, it wasn't until you get to post-secondary education code. Economic development shows up in education code. So that would be nice to have that follow-up on. Certainly, it shows up in the terms of career and college readiness. That… that's a stretch, because it is our job to educate them. Not to then provide the jobs afterwards. We should be a resource. To the EDC, not a piggy bank. I would ask, there's some SCO staff in here, um, is there anybody out in the audience, uh. That would like to

045go ahead and sing the praises of why that $7,500 plus. Would be better spent on a membership to the EDC. And for programs in your program, I'm assuming you're all fully funded, and there's no… you couldn't use $7,500 for anything. Anybody want to stand up and tell me why the EDC. Is a better use of money than a program you have? Let the reflect… let record reflect that nobody stood up. Um, I'm obviously frustrated. What you allow is what will continue. You teach people how to treat you. We sit up here month after month. Complaining that people don't know who we are. People don't have respect for what we're doing. And then we turn around and have. An EDC person. I've asked since last June. For them to come. It took them till April to

046stand us up. May to come here and decide our meeting was too long. Oh, good, Jennifer Leonard's here. It's my understanding that, uh, he was going to a concert. That was why he left early. Someone reported from out in the lobby. And it was to you, is that correct? That will be a shaking her head, that yes, indeed, he was going to a concert. We got a, uh, disingenuous apology letter. Unbelievably timed to when he'd gotten call… his, uh…. Kevin Miller had gotten called out for what happened. I would implore my board. We did the membership to the new county board association. We gave them a year to prove. That they were gonna make… that it was gonna be worth our money. I implore you, pull the money, pull our membership. If the EDC a

047year to get their act together and follow up, to get our names on stuff, to take education seriously, especially K-12. We've given them over 12 years to do something. And they've done nothing, and we just keep handing them money. We can't complain about people not taking us seriously if we don't take ourselves seriously. $7,500 is not gonna end the EDC. But it's sort of going to make a point when an organization pulls their membership. Because they are not taking us, or more importantly, our students seriously. And we can still go to those meetings, and my guess is…. When we pull our membership, they'll welcome us to the Executive Board anyway, because they know they've messed up. I urge you, let's pull the membership, give them a year, and revisit this. Let's take ourselves seriously and

048our students. Thank you. Trustee Sharp, I will remind you, this is…. That the superintendent of schools. Besides if we have or not, it's not up to this board. We've been in that membership for over 20 years. Multiple superintendents. So, this is something that our superintendent of schools right now will have to look at and see if they. At this rate, Trustee Sharp. Okay, I would agree. I understand that it's a superintendent, but ultimately, we improve the budget, and if we approve the budget. Without the EDC membership, that's absolutely our job. It's our job to look through the…. Budget, and approve a budget that represents our student and spends our…. Our funds well. And we are not doing that if we're keeping ADC membership, that. 20 years, that's even worse than the 12. 20 years, and

049nobody can point to a single thing. Trustee Dean? Oh, um, I appreciate, um, Trustee Sharp's. Questions and positions. I think I kind of had the reverse feeling about this, in that. Um, similar to our other membership, which was $2,000 or something. Um, I think we…. Condition continuing? We recommend condition… conditioning, continuing the membership. Um, on performance. And that's two-sided. I appreciate very much the work that you're doing, and you're here on your vacation. And all that's going into it. But just a place to shake hands and kiss babies, we can do that in a lot of places. And, um, maybe there always was this low level of disrespect. The current administration of the EDC, if you will. Sort of brought it to the forefront, and… and very…. Very obviously disrespected us. That's…. It caused us

050to take a closer look. But the reality… I think we have to…. We have to see some…. Performance. It is beyond insulting. Beyond… how could they not include the county superintendent of schools? Who was in the room? And by the way, is one of the very few countywide elected positions. How is that even possible? So, I'm still not convinced that their table is effective with us, so we need a seat at the table. Is that table even working? I don't… I don't see it. Perhaps it is, but they really gotta show. Something, and I'm really going to ask that you come back next year. With not just, here's what we're looking for, here's what the goals are, here's what they're promising. It's, here was…. The initial contact, here's what we determined was a goal. A

051task, a goal, plan, task, and how… what was the result? From both of those… both sides. So, I… my suggestion would be. That we can… we condition our…. And, well, I don't want to… wait a minute. I'm not gonna go too far on this. I think…. Because this isn't up for a vote right now. But I think the idea of conditioning. The next year's…. Um, membership makes the most sense. And if… if it's…. As wildly ineffective as it seems to have been. And that's… that's the time. If I may, through the chair? Another consideration is, um, a middle ground is actually lowering our. Level of membership, uh, and we can certainly still do that. Well, the level of payment. So, currently, we're at the 7,500 level. There was a $3,000 level, there's a $1,000 level,

052so…. Yes. No, it is our choice, and so certainly that. That adjustment can absolutely be made to lower. The membership level on a contingency. And continue to have those conversations. Must be done. What changes with the change in membership? I would have to go back to the website, but I can certainly follow. On that. Astilobo? So, um, I would remind…. Some of my colleagues here that the point of this presentation was to tell us. The value that our staff sees in that membership. And, um, so I would… I would ask you, would you. Qualify that relationship as wildly ineffective. No. No. I recognize. And I, again, have not been here for 20 years. But I recognize that there have been some. Inabilities to see things through. To follow any input that may have happened. In

053the last few years that I've been there. I can't speak for before. But I can tell you that, as I've been sitting in these meetings and learning more, and meeting more people, and hearing. I am encouraged, because I am hearing language change. The relationships the board is new. Chris Rico is the President and CEO. He is not the board. The board is new. The board has some fabulous members on it that are very. Supportive of education that… that…. We have partnerships with where we are working. Constantly on different, um. Programs and projects for students. This is a new board. That is coming in, and I am excited about them being there. And I am hopeful. Um, and I can tell you that as I sit in those meetings with this board and seeing this new

054direction. I am not known to being…. Quiet or, um, meek in my…. In my requests of people. Um, and now that I have been there a while, and I believe. Have gained some, um, recognition as more of an expert. Which is what we want. We want them to see SCO as the experts. I am excited about the opportunities that are coming. Change doesn't occur overnight. We work with ineffective. People with ineffective programs, with ineffective industries often. And I believe it's important for us to stick it. To stick with it, to stay the course. Because I believe that it's going to give us the best information and the best connections for our students. Rusty Sharp. That was a good point, uh, Trustee Lavelle. Is there any other staff that would like to raise their hand to,

055uh. Second, that notion that, uh, our EDC membership is highly effective and helpful in the job they're doing. Not a single one. That's really not representative of what…. Trust me sharp. To, uh, address the audience. To make a statement, so…. For the record, that is nothing that the audience should be addressing. In this situation. Let's see, Cheek, last comment. Well, um, again, thank you. I trust…. Your leadership, and again, the expertise that. Have had. I've worked with you personally in the past, so I know. That when you sit on the board, she kind of observe first, and then you go in. So, I look forward to hearing more about. The, um, partnership with the ADC? But what I'd like to see, and I feel…. Or the sand as we'd like to see some revolts. We'd

056like to see something that the EBC. Went into partnership with and how it benefited our students. Absolutely. Thank you very much. Thank you, Kelly. Thank you, Siobhan. Thank you. My next item is the California School Dashboard Local Indicators, and if you recall. Dr. Garrick presented this information, uh, last month, and. Uh, it was a part of the presentation from the Local Control Accountability Plan. And it is required by the California Department of Education that it be. Placed on the agenda for your information here as well, separate. And that is my report. Thank you. Moving on to unfinished business. Approval of the 2025-2026 Local Control and Accountability Plan, better known as the LCAP. Under the local control funding formula, all local education agencies are required to prepare an LCAP describing how they intend to meet annual

057goals with a specific. Specific focus on the state and local priorities. Pursuant to Ed Code, a public hearing was held on June 11th to review the final draft of SCO's LCAP and obtain feedback from the community. Staff will present the final draft. The 2025-2026 LCAP for Board Approval. I have a question. Trustee Short? I'm wondering, um, who's going to introduce Dr. Parr and her awards and things that she's done? Make… before she gives her presentation. Siobhan, do you have one… do you have one of those presentations for, uh…. Dr. Garrett? Who directly supervises Dr. Garrett? Dr. Lamos isn't here this evening. It's a shame. Can we expect one of those delightful little introductions each time someone speaks for no one? Okay. Oh, you're actually not allowed to speak from the audience, but thank you. So

058we don't have a… just for clarification, we don't have one of those, uh. Engaging little introductions for Doctor. Dr. Garrett? I will sing your praises. I know you've received many awards, and you're one of the shining stars. Sco, so thank you for being here. I know. Thank you, Trustee Sharp. I will note that we absolutely try and recognize. Those individuals that have won awards every time. They have the opportunity to speak at the podium. And while Dr. Garrett did not receive an award. This round she did last year, and we recognized her at the board. Uh, last year. Along with Dr. Parr and others, I believe. Dr. Rogers have received awards, and. They've had the opportunity to speak at the podium, we have recognized. Dr. Garrett, welcome. Thank you, it's good to be here. So,

059good evening, uh, board members. Um, as you heard from our superintendent, um, I had the. Wonderful opportunity to provide, um. A draft copy of our LCAP plan. And this evening, I humbly stand before you to request that the Board, uh, considers approving our LCAP plan. And I just want to say, uh, for the community members that are out there listening. Um, again, I want to thank the students, the parents, the staff members. The community members, the partners. Uh, probation, the folks that work with our foster and homeless students. All of those different agencies throughout Solano County who helped. Uh, make this document, uh, the voice. Of our, uh, students, and I also want to take a moment to thank the board. For affording me the opportunity to stand here, um, each month and represent the

060excellence. Um, of our students, family, and community members, and I sincerely hope. This evening that we receive approval. I'd like to make a motion to approve the 2025-26 Local Control. An accountability plan? We will get that. And moved by Trustee Sharp, seconded by Trustee Cheek for approval of that. 2025, 2026 LCAP, we will open it up for discussion. Trustee Dean? Thank you. Um. I, uh, I also… my mom's support…. Trustee Sharp's effort to call attention to the greatness that is in this room. I say this almost every month now. Um, but I have been at this for 12 years, I'm not…. By far not the most distinguished member of our. Group, but, um, I was reflecting back on when the LCAP first started. Was that 11 years ago? 10 years ago? 2000… Hmm…. It's been

061a while. A while. Um, and how much angst there was, and difficulty. And things that we had to wrangle with, and just…. Wrestle it into the, you know, submission. And all the concern there was about how ineffective it was going to be, and blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. Guess what? And now, now we hear people saying, oh, maybe we should change it. Let's not. This is the… what I was discussing before, make the connection, have a goal, have, uh…. From that goal, create a plan, which has tasks, which have benchmarks, which gets completed. It's fantastic, and I can't thank you and the staff enough for the effort that you put in. Thank you. Through the Chair, if I may, Dr. Garrett and Dr. Lemos, I…. Applaud both of them for their leadership. They're actually helping

062to inform. The state, across the state, um, uh, in terms of county office of education student programs, because. The LCAP is different. It's a different animal with a county-operated student programs. And, uh, Dr. Lemos and Dr. Garrett have been leading that effort. And then called upon to help inform what it can look like for a county office of education. Every meeting I go to, I always talk about, uh, Dr. Garrett. Thank you. I'm Dr. Ramos for Dr. Garrett. The programs that we…. The money that we get in our mental health as well. Any other discussion on this item before a vote is taken? Okay, we'll entertain the motion. For approval. You have a motion. There's a motion on the floor. Trustee Cheek? Yes. Trustee Colin-Thompson? Yes. Musty Dean? Yes. Musty Dunn? Trustee Lavelle? Yes. Trustee

063Sharp? Rusty Coleman. Yes, that's unanimous. Good job, Dr. Garrett. Thank you. So much, Dr. Garrett, for your leadership. Oh, and now the meat of the situation. There we go. Adoption of the 2025-2026 budget! A public hearing was held on June 11, 2025, to review the proposed 25-26 County School Service Fund. Budget, and receive input from the community. Staff will submit to the board for approval the budget that was presented at the June 11th meeting. The board must adopt a budget by July 1. 2025. This is an action item. Mr. Cheryl Hinson. Welcome. Good evening, everyone. Yes, I echo the words of Dr. Garrett. I am truly grateful for the opportunity. Come before you each month for the last. 6 months, providing you budget information and walking you through the budget development process. And for the

064extended time you allowed me these last couple of meetings to actually walk you through some of the documents. It's, um, strengthening for us, for the team. And I think very beneficial for you to feel your involvement in this budget development process. So, here we stand. Before you is the proposed budget. For consideration of approval. Do you have a fancy introduction and your awards you'd like to tell us about? I'm sure that you must have lots of accolades. I want to thank you. I want to thank you for your time and effort in making sure that it's a transparent process. That you never seem to, at least outwardly, tire of questions. Uh, and you're very, um…. Patient and respectful of…. People can see things differently, and I very much appreciate you. So, thank you. Boom. Let's

065let her get into the presentation. And we'll have discussion. No presentation. We had a presentation last meeting, but that's it. Just if you have anything you want to ask me. I just want to, um…. Acknowledge, and ditto. Sentiments in regards to the process that you've led us through in regards to the budget. Very complicated, a lot of information. Have proven to be very knowledgeable. So, um, thank you. For your information. Guidance. It was much more, you know, I'm starting to understand. Budget. Which is something there. Um, but thank you. I'd like to make a motion? I haven't even spoken, thank you, good. Oh, Peggy, you don't even know. I have a second. Okay, okay, so here we go. I would like to make the motion to remove and suspend our EDC membership for the year.

066And revisit it next year after we have seen effective results. Do I still have that second? Didn't bring my legal…. Would like to make a substitute motion. Substitute motion. That we accepted the budget as it was presented. And, uh, deal with, um. Trustee Sharpe's, um…. Conditions going forth. After we get this report that…. We're supposed to be getting. Oh, she made it all seconded. The substitute motion was that we accept the, um…. Budget as it was presented. And to consider Trustee Sharp's conditions. Going forth for next year's budget. Based on the reports that we're expecting to get back. From the lady over in the corner, and from our…. Forgive me for slapping your name. Kelly Burch, okay, and um…. Our superintendent. So that sets the record for next year. They're on notice. That was my

067motion. Left it as it is. Adopted as it is. Or it's been moved by Trustee Cohen-Thompson. That we… we accept the budget as presented, and going forward next year, review the EDC. Membership, once we have all the information. Is that right? It was seconded by Trustee Dunn. Trustee Shard? I would just want to get on the record that we had this discussion last year. Nothing happened. Uh, I don't under… that we had a report given. Um, it's been agendized. Why wasn't that information provided tonight? Why wasn't it provided any time between last June when I brought it up? And currently, 12 months. What we… what we accept will continue. I guarantee you, after tonight's, uh. Next year, we'll be ready for it. The reports come back in from Kelly Birch, and what's moving forward, what

068they are really doing. That will be in the forefront. Uh, when we're looking at the…. If I may, through the chair, I think it's important to have the EDC back. For them to be able to speak for themselves as well. How many times do we invite somebody? The motion's on the floor, and it's discussion. How many times do we invite people to, uh. Not show up. I kind of agree with Trustee Sharp on this. I mean, they've been invited numerous times. Haven't shown up. I think moving forward, I think the crux of the whole thing is. Next year, this time, we'll be seeing what benefit it had to SCO. And if there is no benefit to SCO, and then the superintendent, or whoever the superintendent is, can look at removing that membership. From the budget.

069I think, you know, the feet are going to be held to the fire. Definitely, and it's been a long time coming. Granted, Trustee Shark. But it's here now. Motion is on the floor. So let's have a roll call vote. Trustee Cheek? Yes. Musty Cohen Thompson? Yes. Trustee Dean? Yes. Trustee Dunn? Yes. Trustee Lavelle? Yes. Christy Sharp? No. Rusty Coleman. Yes. Right, 6 to 1, the motion…. Thank you for all your work, Michelle. It was very…. And like you said, you've educated all of us up here. Thank you so much. Thank you very much, Michelle. Very much appreciate it. Our Deputy Superintendent of Administrative Services and Operations, an incredibly talented individual. Thank you. Moving… moving on to new business. Proposition 28, Arts and Music in Schools Funding Report. Proposition 28 funding report outlines a plan for

070support of implementation of arts and education program. This is an action item, and consider. Uh, the action could be to consider approval of SCO's Prop 28 Arts and music. At YouTube? That's me. Alrighty. So what you have before you on item 9A is actually a form, and it doesn't provide a lot of information. It's a formal form that must be submitted in order for continuous. Funding. But let me give you some background so you know what you're taking a vote on. On November 8th, 2022, California voters approved Proposition 28, the Arts and Music in Schools. Funding guarantee, Accountability Act. The Arts and Music in Schools Funding Guarantee. And Accountability Act was established for the purpose of providing a minimum source of annual funding for K-12 public schools, including charter schools, to supplement arts education programs

071for pupils. Attending those schools. You'll see in there that it talks about reporting out of staff. And you're probably wondering why it says zero. That's because, since we have less than 500 students, it's not a requirement held to us. So, in order to use that funding as efficiently as possible. Some of the funds were used for arts and music programs. At Golden Hills and at, um, our special education programs, but through means of. Services or consultants or music guests, that kind of thing. So again, this is, uh, just a reporting end-of-the-year, probably for legislative, uh. Feedback on the program, and just to give them an idea of how the money was spent. We plan on improving some of those services and the programs in the future. Um, it was just one of the first years

072that this has really got rolling. And that's just a report out to provide you some insight of why this is coming to you. Well, I have a question. How much was the funding? There's no dollar number in any of them. So, the action item is to consider approval for SCODE's prop…. 28 arts and music. Do we have a motion? Homo. Second. Moved by Trustee Cohen-Thompson and seconded by Trustee Dunn. We have a roll call vote for approval, please. Trustee Cheek? Yes. Trustee Cohen-Thompson? Yes. Dean? Yes. Trustee Dunn? Yes. Trustee Lavelle? Yes. Trustee Sharp? Yes. Let's take Coleman. Yes. Moved. Thank you, Michelle. Thank you very much, Jason. No agenda items removed from the consent calendar, so now we will have the board discussion. And we do have a comment from the community on this that

073we will hear. Prior to the presentation. Lane Vaness? Mahi? Behi? Welcome. Make sure that's turned on and you're speaking. To recognize her awards, too. Want to Educator of the Year. Oh, wow. A while ago. There we go. I'm usually here for student awards, for student of the month. Um, so good evening, trustees, and President and Superintendent. Thank you for the opportunity to address the board regarding, um. The selection of our next SCO superintendent. My name's Colleen Van Ness Fahey. I am. School psychologist Wisco, and…. Vice President of SCEA, which is Solano County Office of Education. Um, I'm sorry, Solano County Education Association, or Certificated Union. We appreciate your consideration of our perspective regarding this significant decision. Our members work day-to-day with students. The most important reason I believe we're all here. Um, we are committed

074to the success of our students, and in connection to that, a smooth transition. For this essential position of superintendent. We believe the following qualities and characteristics are essential for the next superintendent. Educational leadership, strong collaboration, equity, inclusion. And successful past and current experiences in their roles. Um, thank you for your time and consideration. We believe that a strong partnership between our union and SCO leadership. Is essential for thriving educational environment. We're available, we just want to humbly offer, we are available for collaboration at all, um, with the boards. To talk about and select a superintendent who will lead SCO Forward in the future. Um, with vision, expertise, integrity, and commitment to students and staff. Thank you. I have a question. Um. I heard…. Five different…. Um, areas that you. Want more stressing. So, I guess

075my question is…. Would you be willing to send what you just said to us in writing? Thank you. Also have a clarifying question. Will you be… will the, uh, union be making a…. Recommendation for…. Asking who? Just, will you be? Uh, typically, with elections, we do make an endorsement. I'm not sure with this process, but certainly we will talk with our. Board. Um…. About that? Before…. Thank you. Thank you, I appreciate your consideration. Great, coming to do the presentation, uh, this is the Board Ad Hoc Committee Update. For an ad hoc committee consisting of less than a quorum of the board, which…. The ad hoc committee currently is myself, Trustee Cheek. Rusty Sharp. Um, we're tasked with implementing a process to fill the upcoming vacancy in the Office of the Solana County Super. Of schools.

076The committee will make a recommendation to the board for candidates to move. Forward in the appointment process, this is an. Action item, and I'm going to turn this over to our Council, Megan Macy. And our consultant, George Zero. Good evening, trustees, President Coleman, thanks for having us here tonight. Um, I'm gonna just briefly introduce the item, and then I'll… I'll do my brief introduction of Dr. Soraki. We're enjoying introductions tonight. So, um…. Just to kind of set the stage and what your task is tonight. Um, the agenda item, of course, is to consider the approval of. The recommendation for…. That the ad hoc committee has made in terms of the candidates that we've brought forward, that the committee's brought forward. Um, and we'll talk. More through what that recommendation is, and the process from there.

077With that, I will hand it over to, uh…. Rocky. Thank you. President Coleman? Bustees, superintendent? Public. Thank you for this opportunity. To help and assist, and a very important process. Selecting your next county superintendent. I was just thinking about an accolade for myself. I think my granddaughter would say I'm a great-grandfather, so I think that's an…. A perfect accolade, and I answered the question on July 1, 2014, with the first year. Of the LCAP. You guys were right. But with that being said, if we could pull up the, um, timeline document? I don't want to walk you through it. I don't want to misspeak. We do have. Wonderful ad hoc committee that will correct me. Um, if I make a mistake. That really is his accomplishment, working with us. So, on May 30th, the job

078closed. Immediately upon the closure, that…. Subsequent day, I sent electronic copies to the iPhone. And then began to do some administrative screening. Reference checks. We started off with 14 candidates. Of the 14 candidates, we quickly. Based off those introductory reference checks. And review of paperwork. We reduced it down to 8. Who are the ones that were reduced were Solano County residents. One was, um, didn't have a credential, didn't qualify. The other one, um, didn't meet the criteria in terms of being a. Vice Principal with the highest level of administration. That they held. We went from 14 to 8. Then on June 1st. We reviewed a rubric to see if it was reflective of the job description. Use that as a guiding principle. And then I was asked to go and do more reference checks. Talk

079to each candidate, and also. Many, many references. Our intent at that meeting was to provide you a composite. Rubric score. Then, July… June 18th. We had… we used that rubric to guide our decisions. Immediately, we were able to remove 3 of those. Based off reference checks. Almost consistently to the ad hoc committee member. We had 5. I think you see the five lines. Um, then we had conversation after the ad hoc committee. Had, um…. Evaluated, and we tallied. Where the candidates fell in terms of highly qualified and qualified, based off…. And as that was happening. I pressed pause with the committee. Asked, do we really want to share that publicly? We had some dialogue around that. Uh, thinking, uh, what would be the best thing, and I think there was a conversation on June 8th,

08011th that. Shared that that rubric would be shared. Publicly? But as we looked at the outcomes, we didn't know if that necessarily. Captured, um, a fair process. It could be a perceived advantage. Really, paper screening is really about. That cut point of who you want to interview. And so we categorize those individuals. That day, to the ones that we really thought. We wanted to interview, and that being the highly qualified. If you took a look at…. But separated the highly qualified and qualified? And this is… we'll get into this a little bit more. I think if you look at the rubric. We can pull the rubric up. Really look at the county, um, Solano County experiences. Interagent, um…. Inter-agency collaboration. County office regional provider experience. And SCOE experience really kind of separated. The two candidates

081that were moved into qualified. Another one, the reference checks. Or, uh, reference letters. Um, where year one was a year old. Is, um, and never listed one connection. Colorado County. So that was…. A big weighted thing in the…. Rubric. The second…. Candid. Didn't have any references. Um, that were mentioned. That were related to swallow counties. When it really sorted itself out. Plus, their paperwork wasn't as stellar. I think a couple of ad hoc committee. Members found errors, and so forth. That's kind of how we categorize those areas. And then, um…. Today, you're going to decide. I think there's a recommendation to consider. Ad hoc committees. Recommendation? Or to ask for more clarification. In regards to those who are disqualified. Um, and then make a decision who would be those candidates you'd want to. But before

082we do that, I would like to walk us through the June. July 23rd. Board meeting interviews. I would pause if there's any questions on anything I've covered up to this point. Can I… can I… I'm not getting the numbers to add up, so do you mind if I just walk through…. The statements made here to confirm. So you started with 14 candidates. Correct. Um, you're reduced to 8 candidates. You then said you reduced to…. And you described why you reduced them, but there's a gap of 6. So can you describe why the 6 were removed? Let me walk through that one more time. Yes, thank you. And then we're going to walk through each of these steps, because I'm not getting a clear…. Picture, okay. Um, so we started with 14, immediately we reduced down

083to 8. And who made that reduction? The ad hoc committee, after preliminary reference checks and paperwork. Paperwork and reference checks. Okay, and then you had the. Then we reduce the 8 upon further reference checks and talking to candidates down to 3. Reduce 3 more at that point. You reduce three… so you eliminated 3 more of the 8. Based on reference checks? Okay, and you keep using the word we. And paper, paper screening. Okay. One other piece on that was there was…. Scoring done of that group. There was composite scoring done on the rubric. Using the rubric, the committee members filled out the rubric for the various folks. Okay. Definitely of each other. Understood. And the two number came from the 5? We had 5 remaining, and then we categorized 2 as qualified, and 3. And

084the basis for them being qualified was, again, references. We use that a lot, so I just want to make sure. …is the basis for… references and…. Rubric. The rubric, okay. I wasn't gonna…. Start with this, but, um…. I believe we asked for those rubrics to be available to us, so I'll come back to that, but um…. Okay, that, that makes a little more sense, at least, I understand. The numbers…. Yeah, I've been through it fairly fast, so thank you for clarification. If you take a look at the process that will happen on July 23rd. And we spent time on this…. Making sure it was reflective of what we'd like to see happen. Also, we can make any adjustments there. Um, but prior to voting, the board president will open the floor for public comment. Each

085speaker may address the board for up to 2 minutes. Or it reserved its right to reduce that time if there's need. And it's interview will take. Placed during a public board meeting. To ensure fairness, candidates will be. We'll wait in the designated area outside the meeting room. We're gonna ask them not to use their cell phone. A designated area. And after their interview, they will be directed to a separate designated area. All interviews have been concluded. Well, in accordance with Brown Act, cans cannot be required to leave the meeting room. Any candidate who chooses to remain will be in a. Hope we don't have two, then we'll probably…. What that looks like. And it's my rejoin the meeting once the final interview concludes. Interviews conclude. And deliberation begins. The interview order will be determined randomly

086by lot. Board meeting? Each candidate will have 40 minutes. First 10 minutes, or not the first 10 minutes, combination. The county can choose to give an opening statement. They go with 3 minutes, then they have 7 minutes to close. Carve that 10 minutes, the way they would like to carve that 10 minutes. There'll be 8 predetermined questions, which…. Developed. Um…. And it allows opportunities for you as a board member to have follow-up questions. 40-minute time limit will be strictly enforced. He decided that Trustee. President Coleman would remind them if they were being a little. They were in their time. Um, board deliberation and polling. Board members will independently evaluate each candidate during the interviews. After all interviews, the board would deliberate in open session. Board President will call on each member to share their number

087one candidate and their why. Number one selection by each board member will be publicly tallied by the administrative assistant. One candidate receives a majority of the first place votes, a motion to appoint. Maybe interchange. Tiebreaker. If no candidate receives a majority of first place. There'll be a runoff between the two camps with the most first place votes. Board will deliberate… deliberate prior to the runoff. Number one selection will again be publicly tallied by the administrative assistant. If the candidate receives a majority of the first place vote. It'll be a motion to entertain. If this… at this point, we still don't have a majority. We could… we could move to MPAS? Um, at that point, we've developed a…. Ninth question? That's a scenario question. That we would ask the candidates to come in. And to present,

088again, random. Um, will you select it to who interviews first? And they have 10 minutes to answer that, and then…. Point, we would entertain a motion. Very important, and passed in. We have to have a conversation what that looks like. Any questions on the process, or any…. And you're gonna play. Trustee Dean? So, um…. What documentation will be… will we have had an opportunity to review in advance of the interviews? Thank you for that question. So, you'll be provided the entire, um, applicant. Packet. There will be some personal information that's redacted, like. Reference information, things like that. Um, since it will be a publicly available document. Um, because we're here in open session, but you'll have that entire interview packet. And we'll also be providing. You have the rubric, but you'll also be provided for

089that, so you can make your own. Can I say that again? You'll also be provided with a copy of the rubric, which you already have, but we'll provide another copy of that as well, so you can kind of do your own processing. Um, along with that rubric. Blank. Blank. Yes. Um, I have one more question. Okay, and all those packets, the candidate packets, will be… will come out with the agenda. And we'll be, um, published with the agenda as we normally do. So, this was a point that we discussed on the ad hoc committee, and I also think we were hoping to get a little bit of feedback from the board tonight in terms of…. I'm… I can't wait, um, in terms of the amount of time that you'd like with that information. Of course,

090when all that becomes public, it's public to… to all. Um, and so the lead time on that will be important feedback. Thank you, that's helpful. Trustee Dunn? Um, so what will the packet include? What's the… what's included in the packet we're gonna get? Their application? Their cover letter? And their letters of recommendations. Will we get the rubrics that have been filled out so far by the ad hoc committee? The last ad hoc committee, we decided that that wasn't something. Ad hoc committee. Ad hoc committee, I wasn't…. Can I ask why? Because we felt like it could, um. Sway, or have an unfair advantage. The rest of the board. Scored them independently of each other. Not here in our meeting, but…. We support them independently at home, brought all the paperwork to the meeting. And all

091three of us had the same top 3. So, if we were to publish our rubric, then…. Let's see how we scored them. And which I don't think is an advantage. Um, to the rest of the board. Ordinances for them independently. Board, and then make your decisions. Not be swayed by what the ad hoc committee saw, or…. Discussed. Okay, I understand. Um, a couple questions about the rubric itself. Um, who developed it? Is this a typical rubric that might be used in any county, or was it with input based specifically for Solano County? Well, it was presented to the ad hoc committee. We made a few modifications. But it's based off the job description. It was created collaboratively with the Ad Hoc Committee. Trustee LaBelle? Is this the same job application? Prior appointments? But with some…

092with a few modifications. I think we went over the modifications. For the posting. So it went along with the posting. The rubric goes along. I… I have to admit, I'm a little uncomfortable about the idea of. Just going with the recommendation. That we're supposed to approve tonight based on, um. No information. So, I understand your, um…. Your concern about making public. Things that were…. Um… private in the ad hoc committee, but it is…. Of all the things that we have done on this board, certainly in the time that I've been here, this is. The most impactful thing. Without comparison. And so, to be able to…. Just go forward based on trust. Um, I've… I am uncomfortable with that. So, I respect your…. Collective wisdom, um, again, this is… this is an incredible decision that is

093before us, and. I'm uncomfortable. Um, so…. I'm not sure what you're on…. Because you're going to be…. We're going to give you about 4 candidates. Top 3 candidates, and you're going to be able to go in. Also…. Um, by your feedback, but…. You voted for the ad hoc committee to go in and do the deep dive. Investigation. We met week after week. After week, we put that…. Legal, and also a consultant. Assist us in the process. Um, so I'm not sure, and I just would like clarification of why you. Well, again, I think it comes back to the idea that, you know. Did talk about it last…. Meeting over the idea of. Yes, I want to be able to take your recommendation, but I want to be able to base it on something. Yeah, you're

094basing it on our three recommendations. So, um…. Are you saying you want all the applications? I mean, I'm not understanding what you're…. I am uncomfortable making decisions based on no data. So you'll have the metrics? You'll have the, you know, the decision tonight. How to move forward. Oh, to move forward tonight, okay. Okay. Okay, okay, okay. No, that's… that's what it is. Moving forward, the three top candidates. Okay, so… I don't blame you. Um, I was on the ad hoc committee, so I have the benefit of all the information, I get it. I want to start by thanking, uh, President Coleman. She has, um…. She has done, um, an amazing job in keeping this a very transparent, fair. Process. We've brought in outside people. George and Megan, I apologize for not using last names. Have

095been unbelievably helpful. Um, I will tell you…. I would have the same concern. I would be interested to know what we can do to alleviate that. The problem with it was…. From my perspective, if we handed you a rubric where you saw. Amy scored them 39, Elise scored them 37, and, you know, you had it. You would have a pretty good idea of who we were voting for, and how is that…. Fair to anyone, any of the candidates. And we struggled with how do we get you that information? So you have something. I don't see how I scored. Personally, is actually helpful to you any more than a composite score, and I would say that if I wasn't sitting on. I would want more information, too. I mean, you guys have…. Worked with me for

096several years. I like more information. Um, but…. The problem that we ran into, and without. Please stop me if I say something that's getting me in trouble. I'm gonna stand right here. Right, thank you very much. The, uh, candidates were very varied, and though all. I'm sure amazing educators in the future. That would serve us very well. Some of them just were not up to snuff now. And the thought of outing people…. And in some cases, probably it would be rather embarrassing to those they work with. That they would even think that they could possibly be superintendent of Solano County. I'll stop there, because I can see the Levi. The other thing was just the quality of the, um, applications. I am shocked and appalled. The number of misspellings and grammatical errors for someone who's

097applying to be. If Lizette wrote something like that, you would all know about it, because I would be up here squawking. I haven't heard that yet. Never once, never once. The, um, letters that were from a year ago, more than a year ago. The, uh, the cover letters. Didn't reflect that they even really knew. It looked like they were late-night Ed joining, and just…. Flickin' check, check, check, whatever. Um, it just… the ones that we chose really did…. Distinguish themselves. But I agree with you, Teresa. How do we give you more information? And keep to the Brown Act. All ears. We could not come up with a way to give you the information without releasing more. And I'm… I will say this. This is…. And I was set in on…. I was on the ad

098hoc committee when we appointed the superintendent. I will tell you, this is very different. This ad hoc committee is very different. There was absolutely no. Interference, assistance. Anything from the superintendent's office. This is the first time. But this has happened, like this. So, we, in our ad hoc committee with Council. Um, and… and George. Um, I thought this was the better-off solution. To keep it fair, to keep it transparent, to keep it equitable for all the candidates who we felt. Rose to the level of moving forward. Trustee Cohen Thompson. Oh, sorry, were you…. Sorry, Trustee Dean Tedlet. We're gonna try to answer some questions. Um…. And I'm gonna start, echo my colleagues, um. Appreciation for everything that everybody on the ad hoc committee did. You'll notice I didn't volunteer for it. I know it's… I've

099done it before. You were president last time. Last time, yes, I remember. Um, and I… I appreciate it. I know it's a tremendous amount of work. I really do, and I appreciate that. And actually, I do appreciate the explanation of. Why you wouldn't want the rubrics that you filled out yourself out. That makes sense to me. Um, having said that, there are two fundamental issues that I think we need to address. It is absolutely correct, this is the most important decision this board makes. It just is, you know? And it's rare. So, um, so there's two things that I… I feel I need. To make sure that we make the right… the…. We follow the exact right process to get the work done. Um, and make that very significant decision. And it is each of

100us who's working on that very significant decision. First is, I need sufficient information to consider. And make a decision. And I don't feel like I have it here, in the way this is couched. And I'm sorry, repeatedly, we see, consider approval of something, and for this agenda item, it just says approve. Trustee Dean, I'm gonna own… I'm gonna own the agenda when we go. I'm gonna let both of you own stuff, so that's fine. So, to… and I get the rubric thing, I do, but I think that if I'm going to consider eliminating. So, let's go back to the 14. We had 14. I believe you, that 6 of them just weren't even close. I do, right? I… and therefore… and I trust… I trust the… the decisions of the ad hoc committee in terms

101of what are the questions we're going to ask, what is in our rubric, da-da-da-da-da. Do they… do these folks meet the minimum? That's… that's the job. But when we get to who are we actually going to interview. And all I have is a list of 5 names. Nothing else. It happens now, I'm still…. I guess one more point, too. Nothing else. It happens that I know at least 3 of these people, right? But that's not the basis… that's not sufficient data or information for an elected official to make a decision on. Names on the page. It isn't. I appreciate that you're recommending them. But I would have… I would ask that we have more information, and in particular, you have described what we're going to see. Next time. Yeah, I needed that today to make

102the decision of who we were gonna. So that's… that's one concern, uh, issue. The other thing is transparency. I mean, again, this is the biggest decision we ever make. It impacts everybody in the schools. And everybody who works at Skull. And, um…. We made the decision not to. Have a special election, not to leave the choices in the hands of the… of our constituents, 67,000 of mine and each of yours. Um, and instead make an informed, intelligent, and very thoughtful decision. Um, based on the candidates that. Met the requirements. And, uh, with that in mind, I… I…. I need more. And the public needs more. And it's the decisions that were made. In, um, outside of the public arena? If you say their objective standards and they weren't met, okay. That's fair. You know, if

103you say. We put our, um, heads together and came up with reasonable. Considerate, uh, rubrics and questions, and you're getting a chance to look at it and decide if you want to work with that? Great, but we're picking these three and not these two. Not so great. I really need… I think the public deserves more. Um, and I think…. Just especially because we chose not to do an election. We need as much transparency as possible. My request would be. Either we let all five candidates go through. Or, we set a time between now and then. For us to meet again. To decide who moves on. Based on having… once we have all the decision that we as elected officials, really should have behind our decisions. That's my answer to the question. Trustee Cohen-Thompson. From what

104I'm looking at, um, the action that we're asked to do tonight. Is to approve the process. Not identifying in the…. Clarify if I'm wrong. It's to approve the, um, the three…. Or… or five. You can modify it. Again, the packet that we get, we get the initial, there gets your applications, all the references. Um, across to the rubrics and all of that. You'll have all of that. For the… Oh, I'm sorry, I'm sorry to interrupt, yeah. So, for the candidates. Um, for the candidates that you choose to move forward to the interview stage. Okay, then I'll go back to this. Um… the…. Trustee talked about trust. The whole foundation of the board is to be…. For us, and have the, uh, appreciate the integrity. Of each member. We selected those… we agreed to the members

105for the ad hoc committee. Now, if we cannot trust. Their integrity that we gave them to do it. And at this point. I'm not understanding that. We trusted them to do this, they did it. They've given us the information from time to time. So, what is it tonight? We don't trust. About the decisions that they've made that they're bringing to us. That brought us to this point. That was in… that everybody was in agreement that we're at this point. So I'm not understanding what this not trusting is. Reiterate. I hear you're reiterating… It isn't about trust. It isn't about trust. It isn't. But I heard trust. And I heard, uh, I heard, um, Trustee Dean, she mentioned the word trust. Yes, you did. So if you go to records, you did mention trust. You agree,

106they did, and you trust DD. You always had a but. So…. What do you really want tonight? So that means to redo this all over again? Trustee Chick, so I'd just like to reiterate, too, and that's why… so the…. The top three are…. Eiley, highly qualified. We did indicate these other individuals. And it is up to the board to say, hey. No, we'll just interview those three, or the board say, no, I want to see all five of the camps. That's why they're on the list, saying. That these three individuals are the…. If you say, these three are the most highly qualified. They also qualify. It wasn't just…. Any of the other two out. That's why we listed everybody here. Must be done. Yeah, so… so, Trustee Cheek is… is correct that there could be

107a modification to the. To the recommendation to include all five candidates if that motion was made. And just in terms of fleshing out options, um. I think you have an option on the table of having a special study session where we could bring forward. The candidate packets for the five. If you wish to do that, you could also bring forward all 5 for an interview. Um, uh. Another option would be to bring forward, and we could…. Share who the fourth was, in terms of the general discussion. I don't know if the ad hoc committee wanted to. To share that, we can bring forward the fourth. So… I'm… and…. And perhaps that was a poor option to make based on my read of the Adoc Committee. Members. And I'm sorry, I'm not understanding what you mean

108by fourth. So, when we had… when we had a discussion and we were talking about the composite scoring, there was. A distinction between two of the candidates. Um, so that… that was… that is what I'm referring to. Out of the top 5, but we put all five names. Forward to the board. Trustee Sharp. So, again…. I appreciate if you weren't on the ad hoc. You do not have the same information. Um, I have no problem bringing all five. I think when you…. When you get the package, you'll see what we saw, and…. Um, I don't have a problem having a study session. I want the rest of you to be as comfortable as possible, because I agree with, uh, Trustee LaBelle. And Trustee Dean, that this is a really important conversation. I think, too, if

109you looked at the situation. Trying to balance humanity. With the Brown Act was tricky. And keeping you guys in the loop. It was… you throw everybody under the bus? I wouldn't want some of those packets out if it were me. I mean. I mean, I can swear to you on a, you know, whatever, that the process was transparent, but I get that you didn't see it. So I think we need to do… I will support whatever makes the rest of you that weren't on the ad hoc committee. Feel the most comfortable in the process. I stand by everything I did in it. You could…. If you'd been a fly on the wall, you'd have been fine. I mean, and I'm… I asked a lot of yucky questions, and. Tested for George and Megan a lot.

110I mean, you're used to me here. It's worse in private, probably. So, um…. But I think the four that remain, please. Whatever works best for you to make this, uh, President Coleman. Has been amazing in keeping this a very open, fair process. Honestly, I mean, and I'm a skeptic, and it…. Or down to cell phones, so that people aren't texting questions. So please, whatever… I want to… I would imagine the rest of the ad hoc would feel the same way. What makes you the most comfortable? I stand by the work we did. It is without question, and um…. I appreciate that. You did use a very important word, which was private. So, it's important for me to make decisions based on actual data. But it's just as important, more important, that, especially because we chose.

111The appointment process, that the public had the opportunity to understand. Basis for the decisions that are made. I will say, uh, again. We scored these independently. These five, and. We all have the same score. Independently of each other, of who should be. Top three and who we really…. Didn't want to interview. They just didn't measure up to the… I mean, there was a big disparity. Top three and the bottom two. Didn't have the same scores on the rest, though. That… the top 3 was all over the place. The top 5…. We were not in agreement, necessarily. Those were where the numbers got all…. Over the place. Trustee Dunn. So yeah, I…. Appreciate what you're saying, you being on the ad hoc, you do have all. Rusty Dean and Trustee LaValle, we were not, so we

112don't. Um, and I think to jump to…. Just approving three…. Feels like 3 names on a page just feels like…. A big gap between…. What we know and what you guys know. Um, so I would be in, um, in favor of getting the information for all five. Um, just an interest of trying to save time on the evening that we do the interviews, um, if we could. Have a meeting beforehand to kind of decide. Um, if we're going to go with just the 3 or all five. Um, so that…. You know, if we find that we are also in agreement, that the three really are the ones that we want to be interviewing, then…. We're not doing 5 unnecessarily, and taking the time that it's going to take, I imagine. Gonna take a bit of

113time. Um…. So…. Could you talk a little bit about the idea of a study session? What do you envision with that? It could look a lot of different ways. And that leads to one of my, um, my questions, regardless of whether it's a study session or if you were to bring all five candidates forward, and meeting the board's interest in information. So, I'm gonna start with my… with…. I'm gonna answer your question, don't let me lose it, okay? But we did talk about references, um, that George talked a lot about references, and obviously a reference check process is…. Um, involves personal contacts, it involves…. Um, sometimes sensitive conversations. And so, part… one question that I would have is, from the reference portion of it, what would the board be seeking in terms of the information?

114Um, it could look like a summary. Of the reference checks and themes, it could look…. Like something else. Or it could look like nothing related to the reference checks, and just trust that. Where we've gotten to with these candidates. We have reference checks. Well, the question is about reference checks and what the board would like to see as a whole. Can I ask what has been provided to the ad hoc committee already regarding reference checks? I contacted each of the candidates. Spoke to them, asked them a couple of questions. One was just tell their story, is there anything that I…. Make the ad hoc committee aware of. I spoke to try to connect with each of their direct supervisors. At least one other individual. Um, of the 5 remaining. None of them had any red

115flags in their references. They had… some had a couple. Appointed, uh, opinions, but no red flags. The other candidates, the other…. 9 had things that…. Didn't come back as we liked it. Now, of your reference checks, have you reported back to the ad hoc committee, and what have… have…. They've been told. Yes, they've been told everything that I know. A summary format, yeah. I would be interested in having that summary if we were to do it in a study session. Well, aren't the… if… aren't… if we interview…. There's gonna be an interview. They'll get the pack, the same information we got, so they'll get their letters of reference. They'll get their packet, they'll get all the credentials and everything. Still have all of that. But not the reference check information. Where's the trust and the

116integrity? May I address the information? I didn't answer your question. There's a question. That Megan's gonna answer. So, I could envision a study session, um, you know, being a… it would be a special board meeting. Uh, but ahead of that study session, the trustees would get all of the information that we described in those packets. For the five candidates that are part of this recommendation. The scoring rubric of their own, so you can process it. We… we…. We would have to talk about how the rubric comes into play in that study session, whether it's just a tool for processing, or we're going to be utilizing it in some way in a scoring. A methodology. So, whether there's an action coming out of that, or it's…. An information discussion that results in, we're going to invite

117these candidates for an interview. Or we're going to score these candidates and then invite for an interview. Those could look too different. Part of the packets that are going out to the trustees, the letter of reference will be part of that package. Their letters of reference, and that's what he's talking about. You'll see the letter. The letters of reference are part of the packets. The reference check portion was verbal and over the phone, which is what George conducted. And that was verbally shared with the ad hoc committee. So, would the summary be in there? Um, he said he summarized the reference text. So would that summary that he gave. The ad hoc committee, would that summary be a part of that packet? It could be. Clarification summary, I had names of. Talk to? Right. That's

118what you were indicating. Yeah, I would like that information as well. To make that summary to the packet. Um, just generalization. Yeah, I think just… I don't necessarily think I need the names, but just the information summary information from the reference checks. Let's do sharp. I'm doing the ad hoc and the concerns about the rubric, I would caution. If we were to do a study session, the problem is…. You will run into the exact same problem we did, which was once you've scored them. I truly believe that, in some cases, you will find the same numbers we did. If we then share all of our numbers and make them public. It's gonna be very clear to the interviewers where each person… I mean, if you look…. Aren't exact, but if you look at the rubrics.

119When one person has 39 and one has 32. Where is Trustee Sharpe really on that person? Are they really going to have the 7 minute inter… I mean, a 7-point interview that's gonna change my mind? Maybe, but that… they're gonna have that for all… all of us. And that's concerning. How is that an open process, and…. And if I walk into an interview and I already know I'm at a 15 with you and a 25 with you, and a 36. Really? I mean, that doesn't seem like a fair process. So… so one of the things I've been thinking about with respect to these rubrics is the deliberative process. The deliberative process and the deliberative privilege that individual board members hold. And so, using it as a tool for your own thinking about candidates. May be

120appropriate. It becomes more complicated for the reasons that Trustee Sharp. Just mentioned. Um, if we start sharing those scores out with each other, especially during a study session and before the interview process is complete. That's… we were trying not to corrupt the interview. May I? And, guys, one other thing, just to add to that. It also ignores that X factor. Sometimes there's a read, and there's just… and we have been elected by the entire. County of Solano. It is… I called our Registrar of Voters. $2.5 million minimum to run this election. $2.5 million… I'm complaining about $7,500, I would lose my mind over $2.5 million. Um, and so… but there is that X factor. Sometimes it's not in the rubric. It's when you interview someone. Sometimes there's just that X factor, and I think the

121rubric… I would hate to have it where I have, oh. 39 and 37 and 36. Two points is something you can…. There can be something more to a candidate. And I hate to see it turn into a math equation, and that's part of how this appointment process… we discussed that. Quite a bit. How to keep it where it didn't turn into a, oh, we'll take our. Second or third choice, because that's the one we can all agree on, rather than picking that stellar person. That fits our county, and we'll serve us well until they have to run again. Ai? Dean. So first…. I'm not so much on the study session. Okay, what I wanted was to have the data available to make an informed decision. And to make sure that the public had the exact.

122Same data before. I mean, I'll just be blunt. I want this process to be bulletproof. Because we did choose not to have an election. And absolutely, we had a strong foundation for making that choice. Absolutely. 2.5 million reasons, right? So that's… so, study session where we share our rubrics? No. I wasn't asking for that. I'm asking for the info… before I choose to eliminate two qualified candidates, I want to see who they are. Not just a name on the page. So if we do that… so does that mean we interview all five? Maybe. Do… do we have another meeting where we vote on… on this after I've reviewed the documentation and the public's had a chance? Maybe? Um, but I can't support…. This, um, decision tonight. The requested decision tonight. Of eliminating these two folks

123without…. Having the data available to me and to the public. So, if everybody is cool with going with the 5. That's what… that's… that would be fine with me. Trustee Cohen-Thompson, make a motion that we include the other two. Applicants, so there'll be a total of 5 with all the information. Among them in the packet. That's my motion. I'll second. Okay, the motion's been made by Trustee Cohen-Thompson to include all five names. It was seconded by Trustee Dean. Clarifying question from Trustee Dunn. So the packet that we're gonna get, the application, the cover letter, the letters of recommend…. Letters of recommendation and the reference check summary, no names attached? Is that what we're…. Gonna be getting? Yes. I'm gonna ask a question, too. The letters we get from the public. Right? That have come to

124us via email, and that will come to us. In any manner of ways over the next couple of weeks, I suspect. Right? Pony Express, whatever. They… we're required to make them public, correct? I mean, they should be available to the public. Communications that we get. Regarding decisions that come before us. They are a public record. Whether or not they're part of, uh…. An agenda item or process, um, depends on how they're delivered. If they're delivered. As part of your public comment at your meetings, they're certainly part of that deliberative process. And can I… can I clarify here? Let me state it differently. Well, and… and I… and… go ahead. So, some people are sending us letters saying, this person's great, that person's great. We're taking that into consideration. Wouldn't that document be part of. I

125mean, I understand it's part of public record. Should not those documents be publicly available? That's a question… that is a question for the board, if that's something that the board would like to review as part of its…. Process. Okay, thank you. Just include those letters in the back. Pretty sure. Okay, so some of the letters we're receiving. I can see that it went to all of my fellow board members. What if… and I haven't received any, but should I receive… no, I have received letters, but I'm good… what I'm about to say, I have not received, let's be clear. Should I receive a letter? You know, do… and I can't forward it to my fellow board members, would the best process be? That would seem… that would be ex parte. I'm avoiding ex parte at

126all costs right now. I won't talk to people. I'm sorry, people. Um…. Do I forward it to the superintendent? Within this process, um, I believe that President Coleman would like. All those communications to be… they can be sent to my email address, or George's email address, or both of us. And we'll make sure we communicate and get them in the packet. Thank you. I just want to, if I could, I want everybody to understand that people are writing to us to influence our decision. And the public has not seen those documents, and I believe… I feel most comfortable. If the public did see the documents, if I'm going to consider what they're saying. In my deliberative process. Make a public… a decision. Capacity. That's my thinking. Here's the motion on the floor. That we take

127all five names. That we felt were qualified. And move those forward. And the board will get a redacted. Packet prior to the next board meeting in a timely fashion. Any letters that come in to the superintendent's office. Should be referred to counsel. Not distributed to everybody from the superintendent's office. The superintendent's office is out of this. Process. I don't know how else to say that. But it is correct that if it's direct… if a communications directed to the Board of Education, it comes to the Board of Education, right? Comes to the Board of Education, but whoever is sending the letters to us, we are…. Emails are public knowledge. They're on the website. Or right under our names and our pictures. They can feel free to direct it to us. Uh, through our emails. But to

128have the superintendent's office distribute letters. That are coming in, just being asked. For instance, the one we got from Jane Shamia. Was distributed by the superintendent's office. From the start. Of this process. It has been made abundantly clear. That if you want to talk to the board. About this appointment process, you talk to the board. Do not talk to the superintendent's office. To have them send us letters. That's not gonna happen this way. I don't think Jane showed me, I would have been aware of that process. But it was addressed to us, the Board of Education. It was addressed to the Board of Education. Board of Education that are addressed to us come through staff. I don't understand. No, they do not all come through staff. We've had letters sent to us on…. Certain candidates

129through our emails. They were sent to each single one of us. Yeah, yeah, you did. I saw your name on it. That's how this whole…. Things started, and that's why we put a kibosh on the superintendent's office sending out the mail. If people want to talk to us about this process, if they want to talk…. Our emails are readily, publicly available. So…. I had a letter come in from a. You know, via snail mail, addressed to the Board of Education. What happens to that letter? Regarding this process, it should be sent to Council. And Council can send it to us. And Council will send it to it. So what I'm… what I'm hearing, I just want to make sure I'm confirming for understanding, is that if there is a letter related to this process. That's

130sent to any board member or to the superintendent's office. That… that… that'll be directed to George and me. And… or if you get either one of us, we're gonna coordinate. And that information will go into the packet that you'll receive. And if it's a letter of complaint? I love it. All of it. Will it be redacted? Will it be, um…. We'll have to look at those items on a case-by-case basis, and we will. Do some legal analysis related to those, if there are any. Because we've… we have had letters for and against. Candidates. And…. We were…. And now, you know. And it should be included in the packet. If the candidate is moving forward, all letters coming in to us should be included in that packet. Good or bad? We don't make a determination on

131what the writer's saying. They say they want to have input on this candidate. And it should come to all the boards. That's how it was set up and said from the very beginning. And the way that I might think about it, and this is the way I kind of think about. Public comment is…. The speaker is responsible for their own speech and what they say in their letters. And the consequences of that. Are we comfortable with the…. Motion that's on the floor? Ask a logistics question. We have 5 candidates now, do… I think the special board meeting's scheduled for 6 o'clock, is that…? Do you want to move that up, or…? There's a motion on the floor, we'll deal with that in a second. So the motion is to move forward the five candidates that

132were qualified on the list. And uh…. The board will get…. A packet prior to the July 23rd meeting. We are not gonna call a special sex. Uh, session. We'll have a roll call vote. Husty Cheek? Yes. Trustee Colin-Thompson? Yes. Trustee Dean? Yes. Trustee Dunn? Yes. Trustee Lavelle? Yes. Trustee Sharp? Yes, Trustee Coleman. Alright, it's unanimous, all five candidates, please invite them to come forward to the July 23rd meeting. From this point forward, any letters referencing any of these candidates will go to our legal counsel, and counsel will distribute it to us in their packets. Good or bad? Any letters? Okay, so we need to address the time. Uh, thing. I, I think 5 o'clock at the earliest. I don't think it's fair to start it. Earlier than that for… so that the public can be

133here, that gives them time to roll through. And then the other thing was, um. You gave us kind of a little, um…. Um, lecture of sorts on, um…. Ex parte, if you could share that with the whole group so we all know what the lecture's not… it was a kind, kind admonishment to all of that. There we go. Kind admonishment about what the rules were so that. Um, because, uh, you know, you go to the grocery store, and I don't know about you guys, they want to talk about it, and I'm having to go, no, no, no, no, no, no, I don't want to have to report you in an ex parte conversation. Come to the meeting. What we talked about is that. For the benefit of the whole board. If you can avoid having

134conversations with folks individually about particular candidates. Um, that would be the best. And to the extent that there are conversations that happen that are of any substance or depth, that probably needs to be part of the discussion. During the voting process later, so that the full board has the benefit of. That information. What do we want to do about time? Yeah, we need to vote on… Oh, okay, sorry. I thought we did. Oh, okay. All the time, sorry. I would suggest…. Um, and I… I hear your comment about. Being after most people get off work. Um, probably most people…. Are gonna be involved in the education community? That want to come forward and speak, and…. Hear all this, but a lot of them. So, I would suggest we start the meeting at 4 o'clock. Because

135this is going to be a long process. Each. Individual that's moving forward is going to have at least 40 minutes. That doesn't include our questions. So, I think maybe we need…. Start at 4 o'clock. About 40 minutes did include our questions. We had a hard deadline. They have 10, we have the questions if they yap too long, they lose out on more questions or closing. I thought we had a hard stop. That did include the questions. I think maybe you meant…. For discussion. Yeah, board discussion, and that doesn't include all our toweling. Right, absolutely, okay. All of this, and…. I'm assuming there's gonna be quite a few people. So, you got crowd control and all that. I would really say we should. Start at 4 o'clock. Get out of here in a reasonable fashion. I

136support investing as much time as is necessary. Because this is the most important decision we make. I take back what I said, with 5 interviews at 40 minutes, and then even nominal talking, and we like to talk. We could be here all night, so…. I'll make the motion to start the meeting at 4 o'clock. Second. It has been made by Trustee Sharp and seconded by Trustee Cheek to start our July 23rd meeting. At 4pm. Get a roll call vote. Justice Cheek? Yes. Rusty Colin Thompson? Yes. Trustee Dean? Yes. Trustee Dunn? Yes. Trustee Lavelle? Yes. Trustee Sharp? Yes. Trustee Coleman. Okay, the motion passes to start the meeting at…. 4 o'clock! Brian Dolan, I see your name on the list. Nikki Park, 4 o'clock! Don't come late. I don't know what you're gonna say. Um, do

137we have a date by which we'll get all of this information? I don't know. So, I'm at the board's, um, request. We'll have the information to the board. Whenever the board would like it ahead of the meeting, so you tell us. Just remember…. That when it comes to us. It also comes to the public. Those statutory time, 72 hours. It's a lot of information. I realized that, and we've had the purview, we've had it for the last month, so we…. Now, we know the information that's in there. It's a special meeting, so you could go as short as 24 hours. I'll do that. I was trying to get ready. What are you suggesting, Trustee? A week before? Yeah, so…. Our meeting's on a Wednesday, right? Yes. Our practice is to have the agenda out no

138later than the prior Friday. Right? Usually the Wednesday before. Yeah, okay. So, but maybe we can…. The Wednesday before sound okay? Is that not enough time? You're looking at me. So, do we need more time than that? Oh, okay. Unless you want it. We want you happy. Can I ask one more logistical question, so I can also coordinate with, um, Monica and Erica appropriately? Um, I know often the board likes hard paper, but… You're coordinating with Erica. Error with Erica. Hard paper copies. Are you gonna do the binders? Yes, that was what I was… what we were going to do. Okay. They will be delivered to your houses. Are there questions, Trustee Jones? I think we also talked about where the candidates would be placed. So now that there's 5, I think we have…. Think

139about, we're 5 candidates. Boardroom and the after room. Oh, Wednesday before? That's doable. Wednesday before, and thank you for the opportunity to work with you all on this, and for your patience as we. Work through the logistical pieces of this. I will say, uh, we have had stellar staff. And Erica Finlay, and all of her help. When we're doing this, so thank you, Eric. And George and Megan, they've been stellar. All right. Feeding on special dates. So, meeting on special dates, there's a list attached. On the board member request, in accordance with board policy 9250, board members may request to represent the Board in an education. Related activities. Specify the desired level of support necessary for the activity, actual and necessary expenses incurred while discharging these official duties will be paid from the. County School

140Service Fund. As permitted by law and schools, travel policy. Are there any board member requests? Hearing none. Moving on to suggestions for future board agenda items. Are there any board member requests? Hearing none. Board Member Activity Reports! I'll start. Ad hoc, ad hoc, ad hoc. Trustee Sharp, you're next. Agenda review, ad hoc, ad hoc, ad hoc, and the…. Idas, but my notable, since it's only really been. Weeks. Um…. Is I went to the Juneteenth flag ceremony with Supervisor Wanda Williams. Amazing. It was, um, a…. It was a really neat event, lots of people, but by far the star of the show. Apologies, Wanda. Was the elite cheerleaders who came and did. Unbelievable presentation, such poison in the middle of a, you know. Concrete, and they just threw up their stuff, and just…. It was amazing.

141It was absolutely amazing. They have a lot to be proud of. Dr. Bishop was there, and uh…. It was just a really neat event, so…. Thank you. Trustee Dean, Dunn? Sorry, Dean, you're last this time. Just busy finishing out school. Rusty Lavelle! Uh, SCSBA has been on…. So, um, do conflicts of schedules, so we just called it for the summer. Um, but I did get the chance to go to the. Girls camp, um, culmination day in Vacaville. Miss the Fairfield one, but…. This Friday is the one in…. Leo, it's just an incredible time to see. Kids so excited about the work. And the wonderful staff support. I think our aunt and her son just got his PhD. The Dr. Labelle in the face. Yeah, yeah. Trustee Cohen Thompson? Um, my granddaughter got married this past.

142Saturday, and uh…. Out of all that's happened in the last couple of months, that was, uh…. Refreshing. I have another, or I have…. A…. Our family, from, um…. Of fear. And his family came. Family and friends. So, it was a great event in Carmen. Great thing, um…. I was just wonderful. My youngest daughter gave an event that, uh. Backyard meet, so that we can meet. All the 60-plus people. And, um, all the men played golf Saturday morning. Women went to the beauty shop. And uh…. Uh, then Saturday afternoon before it began. In my granddaughter to see…. Her friends. She was…. Play the integral part in her life, because her mother was in residency. When she was too tall. I had them every day. Sometimes weeks at a time. And to see her elementary school. High

143school friends. Undergraduate friends. And her college friends, and her new work friends. It's like, I'm looking at all you. Young people as adults now. Somebody didn't recognize…. Um, but when they said Nana, then I knew they knew me. Alright, so it's like you don't ask, well, what's your name? I asked my granddaughter. It was just beautiful. It was really beautiful. Really beautiful. I went to the EDC meeting this morning. Let's do two. So, I went to the Vallejo Juneteenth. 5 minutes, because I had to head towards…. City, um…. Be a part of the Juneteenth, but…. I was gonna say, Amos, the little one in the middle who was doing all the shaking, that was my granddaughter. So, um, it was a great, uh, weekend. Ad hoc, ad hoc, ad hoc, and it was a pleasure.

144Serve the board, and it's very, very important. I'm just excited about…. Um, the new superintendent. Interesting, Dean? Much in the two… I mean, it's only been two weeks, but, um…. I did pick up another… so, I think I reported last time, in the terms of education. Um, the gigs I've got for presenting. To other lawyers continuing legal education, so…. Um, I have a couple that are already on the calendar for legal ethics and appearing before governing bodies. So, not as the governor. It as the advocate, which is my day job. Um, and then another one just came in. I'm still waiting on the thing for environmental conference, but in terms of couch as education. I am scheduled further to educate. Lawyers on the process around appearing before governing bodies. I just want to take one…

145one second to acknowledge. That we have had a lot of ad hoc meetings, and it couldn't have been possible without our stellar trustees. Trustee Sharp and Trustee Cheek. Asking those questions and getting that, and I really appreciate all you guys' hard work on this. Really, because it was a process. That's the first time the process has been done like this. So, I mean, I think we all can hold our heads high and…. You know, as Dr. Garrett says. Walk out a little straighter this time, so…. I'm looking forward… the ad hoc committee is now, uh, defunct. There's no need for us. Uh, we're all just…. Board members going forward. The five names, and…. Unless there's anything else good for the order, we are adjourned. I commend the Ad Hoc Committee, because I know, um. People

146that